By Williams Odunze
The State Working Committee ,SWC of the Labour Party, Imo State Chapter has passed vote of no confidence on its State Chairman, Barr.Callistus Ihejiagwa , accusing him of engaging in anti party activities and administrative high-handedness.
At a Press conference organized by the members of the State Working Committee, they alleged that the State party chairman is a political working tool of APC , following what they described as his inactive posture as a leader of an opposition party in the State.
Reading through a Communique signed by the State leaders of the party, its Publicity Secretary, Bright offurum, revealed that before this time that the party chairman had been associating with the APC led administration of Gov Hope Uzodinma since the defections of two of the party’s Federal Lawmakers to the ruling party,APC on the state.
The spokesperson of the party further alleged that efforts made to condemn the defection of the two lawmakers by issuing of Press release against the act was rebuffed by the State chairman who they accused of romancing with the lawmakers even after their defections.
Offurum, hinted that Ihejiagwa is currently in Israel on APC sponsored Pilgrimage and has never raised a voice to condemn some administrative policies of the ruling party in the State.
“We have lost the moral burden of promoting the needed opposition to the APC led Government.
The Imo State Labour Party Chairman needs to be changed and an acting chairman appointed pending the congress.
He is APC member masquerading as a Labour Party die hard the communique partly stated.
The SWC further accused chairman Ihejiagwa of administrative high-handedness ,saying that he was in the habit of taking unilateral decision(s) without involving the party leaders and stakeholders.
The Press statement, added that Ihejiagwa single handedly changed party leaders in the various LGAs and wards and replaced them with people not known by the party.
” There is a great tension in the party now and must be handled immediately by his stepping down to avoid disintegration of the party.
The elected federal and state lawmakers are at logger head with him including the major stakeholders and party faithful,who detest his leadership style.”the communique further noted.
In the area of finance, the State Working Committee accused the party chairman of running the party as his family enterprise without proper auditing of expenses as they claimed that they don’t know the financial status of the party.
They therefore called on the national leadership of the party to listen to their demands and ensure that the right thing is done for the party to remain alive in Imo state.